Building structure



Sept. 8, 1953 H. L. HAVENS BUILDING STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1948 Snnentor Harry L. Ha yells (Ittorneg s Sept. 8, 1953 H. L. HAVENS BUILDING STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 23, 1948 Gttorncgs Sept. 8,1953 H. HAVENS BUILDING STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 25, 1948 attorneys H- L. HAVENS BUILDING STRUCTURE Sept. s, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 23, 1948 622-7 L. flare/z:

attorneys Patented Sept. 8, 1953 2,651,391 1 BUILDING STRUCTURE I Harry L. Havens, Kansas City, Mo. Application April 23, 1948, Serial'No. 22,861

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a building structure and more particularly to an arrangement of insulated panels and structural members, prefabricated and assembled on the structure site to form a metal building.

Metal buildings, generally, are adapted for prefabrication and are consideredportable in that they can be knocked down and assembled on other sites but modification of the floor plan usually requires replacement of some of the units because holes in the panels or framing destroy its use except for exact replacement in the same relative position of the building. There are many disadvantages in the conventional metal buildings. There is a tendency for the interior or portions thereof to sweat due to difference of temperature and transmission thereof from the exterior to interior surfaces and condensation of moisture thereon. Changes in surrounding temperatures effect expansion and contraction resulting in weakening the joints and the buckling of members forming the panels. Holes also are required in the building parts for accommodating fastening devices used in the erection of the building. Such holes prevent complete salvage of all the members and also make modification or alteration of the building difficult requiring replacement of some members instead of merely an addition of parts needed for extension or enlargement of the building or insertion of partitions therein.

The objects of the present invention are therefore to provide a metal building comprised of a plurality of standardized units easily and'accurately assembled with all roof and wall panels held in place by friction; to provide a metal building assembled of prefabricated units, the panels of said building being free to expand and con tract whereby the building may be said to be characterized by full floating walls and roof; to provide a metal building structure in which all joints are waterproof and transmission of cold or heat through the metal members from the exterior to the interior is retarded; to provide a metal building structure adapted for easy modification to partition or change the size of the building by mere addition or removal of the panels and frame involved without alteration of any unit; to provide standardized columns functioning in any portion of the building including the corners thereof; to provide a novel roof ridge member and joining of the roof panels therewith whereby the usual ridge cap is eliminated; to provide a novel structural mounting of both gutters and gable facia on the roof; to provide -a building structure in which all units are re- 2 V usable; to provide a modular insulated metal building construction formed of prefabricated units that can be easily manufactured, transported and installed or moved and used in various building. arrangements to easily erect a structure adapted for strong, efiicient service under 'severe conditions such as varying temperatures to show the arrangements of the parts therein.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective of the wall and roof structure illustrating the mounting from the gutter .thereon.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the lower portion of the building wall.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the end wall and roof structure illustrating the structure of the units and the mounting of the gable facia thereon.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of the lower portion of the walls showing the corner structure.

'Fig. 6 is a transverse section through the ridge portion of the roof.

Fig.7 is a horizontal sectional view through the door jamb and adjacent wall.

Fig. 8 is a partial perspective of a typical wall panel, portions being broken away to illustrate the structure thereof.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view through the walls illustrating the mounting of an inner wall.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a building erected with prefabricated units and generally consisting of a suitable foundation 2 and framing 3 for supporting prefabricated wall panel units 4 and roof panel units 5. The foundation 2 is preferably of suitable material such as concrete to form the floor of the building andis of a shape to conform substantially to the floor plan thereof, said foundation having suitable footings or other supports as in conventional practice. Located in the foundation and spaced inwardly from the edges 6 thereof are anchor bolts 1 having a threaded portion 8 extending upwardly from the upper surface of said foundation, the anchor bolts being arrangedin alignment whereby they extend through openings in the bottom wall I! of a column base l2. The column base is formed of sections arranged parallel to the outer edge 6 of the foundation and substantially on the inner side of the outer wall of the building. Suitable nuts I 3 are applied to the threaded ends 8 of the anchor bolts to rigidly secure the column base to said foundation.

The column base l2 continues around the perimeter of the building except atdoor openings and is preferably of channel shape, formed of relatively heavy sheet metal and consists of a bottom wall H having an upwardly extending web I4 on the inner edge thereof, said web terminating in an outwardly directed flange 15, the outer edge of which is bent upwardly as at [6 to form a lip 11. The outer face of thelip I! is preferably in alignment with an upwardly directed flange [8 on the outer edge of the bottom wall I I and engages the inner face of a. board or the like 19 arranged with the lower edge 20 resting .on the foundation, said board being :of suitable width whereby the upper edge is substantially in alignment with the upper edge of the lip I1 and of suitable thickness to cooperate with said lip in supporting a wall panel unit as later described.

A suitable water table 2] is preferably arranged around the foundation, said water table consisting of sheet metal formed to provide a flange .22 extending over the upper edge of the board 19, the outer edge of said :flange being turned downwardly to form a vertical web 23 substantially engaging the outer face of the board l9. Approximately midway the height of the board [.9 the lower end of the web is turned outwardly and downwardly to provide an inclined portion 24, the outer end of which terminates in a downwardly directed portion 25 which engages the outer edge 6 of the foundation and extends below the surface thereof. Suitable blocks or strips 26 of wood or other suitable material may be located on the foundation between the water table and the board l9 to support the inclined portion :of said water :table. Also suitable waterproof plastic or adhesive is preferably provided between the contacting faces of the column base, board .19 ad water table 2|. The sections of the column base and water table adjacent the corners of the building are suitably joined to provide a substantially waterproof construction. This arrangement makes a hollow column base adapted for enclosing pipes, wires, .or the like, where arranging utility service in the portions of the building is desired.

Mounted on the column base 12 are a plurality of columns 21, saidcolumns beingspaced slightly more than the width of the wall panels later to be described; Said columns are arranged vertically and preferably are formed in a channel shape to provide flanges 28 and 29 connected by a web 30. The columns are mounted on the column base in such a manner that the web 31! forms the inner face and the flanges are directed cutwardly, terminating in slightly-spaced relation with the inner face of the lip l7, the spacing being such that a flange on the wall panels may be received therebetween as later described. The open portion of the channel is preferably closed by a plate 3| of such width that the sides edges of said plate substantially engage the inner faces of the flanges 28 and 29, the plate 3! being welded or otherwise suitably secured to the flanges of the column as to 32. The lower ends of the columns 2'! are closed as by a bottom wall .33 welded to said column, said wall 33 having apertures therein aligned with apertures in theflange I of the column base whereby the column may be rigidly secured to the base by suitable fastening devices such as bolts 36. The wall 33 and flange [5 also have aligned apertures through which wires, pipes or other utility connections may extend.

The upper ends of the columns are suitably shaped for connection with rafters 38 and spandrels, the ends of which are aligned with and supported by the columns. The rafters slope upwardly toward the center of the building and are adapted for supporting a roof as later described. The rafters and spandrels are substantially the same in cross section as the column members. Extending between the columns and rafters aligned therewith are header members 39, the ends of said header members being suitably connected to the columns by bolts 40. The header members consist of an inner panel 4|, extending downwardly from the upper edge of the rafters and terminate in horizontal portions 42 which extend :to the outer edges of the columns. The outer edges of said portions 42 are turned upwardly as at 43, in coplanar relation with the outer edge of the column to form a wall 44 adapted to be engaged by the upper portion of the wall panels 4. This arrangement of the column bases, columns, rafters and connecting members suitably secured together form the framework of the building for supporting the wall panel units 4 and roof panel units 5.

Each of'the wail panel units consists of spaced sheets 15 and 45 having a width slightly less than the spacing .of the centers of the columns, the side edges being turned inwardly to form flanges 41 and 4B spaced from the respective inner faces of the panels sufdciently to form ueshaped seats adapted for insertion of flanges 49 of the side channel members 5! whereby the web 5! of said channels forms the connecting member enclosing the side edges of the panels. The end edges of the sheets 45 and #6 are turned to form flanges 5.2 and 53 spaced from the sheets to form U- shaped seats adapt-ed to receive the flanges 54 of channels 55 whereby the webs 56 of said channels close the ends of the panel, the length of the sheets being such that when folded over the panel will be of sufficient length whereby the lower edge of the inner sheet engages the upper wall l3 of the column base and the upper edge is coplanar with the upper edge of the wall M on the header member 39. Located between the sheets 45 and '45 and substantially filling the space therein is a sheet of insulating material 5?, the contacting surfaces of said insulating material sheets and channels being covered with a waterproof adhesive which preferably has some resiliency to provide adherency between the insulating material and the sheet during expansion and contraction thereof.

The wall panel units are placed in the building structure by inserting the lower edge of the inner sheet in the spacing between the lip I! of the column base, at the outer edge of the flanges 28 and 29 of the columns, whereby the upwardly extending portion of the insulating board l8, lip 15 and upper portion of the water table are received in the groove 60 at the lower end of the panels, the side edges of said panels overlying the columns being arranged in spaced relation as at 6| to permit the passage of bolts 62 which extend through apertures 63 in astragals 64, the inner portion of said bolts being threaded into the plate member 3! whereby tightening of the bolts clamps the side edges of the panels 4 between the astragal and the .outer edges of the flanges 28 and 29 of the columns. The astragals consist of sheet metal formed in a channel shape with insulating material 65 being located inside of the channel portion of the astragal, the astragal being of such length as to extend from the inclined portion of the water table to the upper edge of the outer sheet of the wallpanel.

Plastic material is preferably placed between the astragal andsheet whereby said astragelnot only closes the space between the wall panels, but also forms a waterproof seal therebetween, the insulating material in the astragal insulating the gap between the wall panels whereby the entire wall is of insulated structure. Itis to be noted that the bolts are arranged between the wall panels whereby the only apertures are in the astragal and plate BI and no bolts extendthrough the wall panels. V

At the corners of the building the wall panels 4 overlie portions of the columns 21 which are identical with the intermediate columns above described. As illustrated in'Fig. 5 the wall panels 4 of one side of the building overlie the flange 28 and the Wall panels 4 of the adjacent sideforming'the corner overlie the plate 3|. The joint at the corner is covered by a corner astragal til-hav- 'ing angularly arranged flanges 68 and E9 preferably arranged at right angles to each other and adapted to extend from the water table member 2| to th upper edges of the wall panel 4. The

flanges68 and 69 are of such width as to overlap the side edges of the wall panels 4; the'adjac'ent ends of the flanges being connected. by a web portion 10 to provide an attractive corner appearance to the building. The corner astragals preferably consist of insulated material H and sheet metal 12 bent in'such a manner as to close all of the outer surfaces of the. insulating material,

said astragals being held" in place andin clamping'relationship with the wall panels 4 to hold same against the members of thecolumns by means of screwsor other suitable fasteningdevices 13 extending through the web 10 and threaded into a flange 14 of an angular bracket 15 which'has a flange 16 secured to the plate member 3| by a suitable fastening device 11.

In forming the walls of a building, combinations of short wall panels and suitable window 'framing'18 may be used toprovide window openlugs 19 adapted to receive suitable window panes 80, for example casement windows. Also as illustrated in'FigHl', wall panels sl of reduced width may be used in combination with suitabledoor framing 82 to provide 'for mounting of doors 83. The door frame preferably consists of a wood liner 84; of hollow rectangular cross section, the

inner and outer ends thereof being covered with sheet metal members 85 and 86 bent inchannel shapes to provide flanges 81 on the door opening side thereof and flanges 88 on the wall side, said flanges being connected by a web 89 The adjacent ends of the flanges 88 are provided with outwardly struck'portions 90 secured by fastening devices 9| to a block 92 located therebetween and of such size that the portions 90 form a ribadapted to be snugly received in'the groove 93 between the side flanges of the wall panel 8].

Adjacent edges of the flanges 81 are spaced as at 94 to break the conduction of heatand cold from the outside to the inside members, the

flanges 81 being secured tothe wood member 84 and suitable fastening. devices 95. The joint is covered by a door stop flfijoverlapping the adjacent edges of the flanges 81 andsecured to the wood frame member 84 by a. suita-ble fastening device 91, said door stop preferably'being of-she'et thin sheet of metal I portions 85 and of said door frame.

The roof panel units 5 preferably consistof a plurality .of layers ofinsulating material I00 or combinations of insulating material and plywood, each. being formed in panels of conventional thickness whereby the plurality of layers will make up the proper thickness of roof. The roof panel units are made similarly to the wall panel units'being provided with outer and inner metal sheets IM and I02 of such size that the edges extend beyond the edges of the insulating material I00, each of the edges being provided with inturned portions I03 whereby said portion are spaced from the sheet to snugly receive flanges I04 of channel shaped members I05. The webs I06 of the channels engage the edges of the insulating material I00 when the ends of the flanges I04 engage the bends I01 at the edges of the sheets WI and I02. Rubber or other elastic waterproof adhesive is preferably provided between the metal members and the insulating material forming the roof panel. This arrangement provides grooves I 08 on each side and end of the roof panel and said panels are of such length as to extend from the roof ridge I09 to a point beyond the wall panels to provide an eave structure I I 0. Said panels also preferably have transverse'reinforcing members III spaced from the outer ends of said panels whereby said reinforcing members substantially overlie the header member 39 at the upper end of the wall panels to support the roof load and span between the roof supporting members. The inner sheet I 02 ispreferably provided with a break or separation I I2 adapted to overlie the upper edge of the wall panel 4 to prevent loss of heat from the inside of the building to the panel portion located outside of-the building. The roof panel units are of substantially the same width as the wall panel units whereby the side edges overlie the rafters, said side edges of adjacent roof panels being spaced silbstantially the same distance as the wall pan- 8 s r The ridge I09 is preferably formed of non-metallic structural material and extends the length of the building. The upper edges slope to correspond to the slope of the roof, the sides of said roof ridge member being provided with undercut portions H3 and H4 to provide ribs H5 adapted to be received in aligned grooves I08 in the upper endsof the roof panels, to providea frictional connection therebetween. In order to cover the joints ofthe roof panel and the ridge member a [6 i preferably arranged over the ridge member having side edges I Hover.- lying the upper ends of thereof panels. The under surface of the sheet I I6 is preferably integrally coated with waterproof flexible. gasket materialIIB. In order to secure the sheet on the ridge member a ridge cap H9 is arranged longitudinally of the rigde member conforming to a slope thereof whereby the side edges extend substantially to the adjacent portions of the undercut II3,;saidcap member being secured to the ridge member by suitable fastening devices such Roof astragals I2I consisting of stripsof'insulating material I22 having the outer portions thereof covered with sheet metal I23 are arranged over the adjacent side edges of the roof panels whereby the astragals secure the roof panels in place by a frictional contact obtained from clamping action provided by screws I24 extending through the astragals and threaded into plate members I25 of the rafters, the ends of said astragals adjacent the roof ridge member being suitably covered by sheet metal caps I26 to close the joints thereof. Waterproof flexible material is adhered to the roof astragals and becomes an integral part thereof to form a water seal between said astragal and roof panels. The lower ends of the astragals project beyond the edge of the roof as shown in Fig. 2 for supporting gutters I21 on said roof. The gutter preferably consists of sheet metal bent in a channel shape whereby the web I28 forms the bottom of the gutter, the inner flange I29 extendin upwardly and terminating in a lip I30 adapted to underlie the projecting edge of the sheet IIJI of said roof panels. The outer flange ISI extends upwardly from the web I28 and overlies the end of the astragal I2I, the upper end being turned inwardly and downwardly to provide a finished edge on said gutter. The flange ISI is secured to the ends of the astragals by a suitable fastening device I32. The flange I29 may also be secured by being attached to the astragals or under side of the roof panels by suitable fastening devices I33.

The eaves at the gable ends of the building are formed by a roof panel of the same structure as the other panels but of reduced width to provide a projecting portion I34. The outer edges of said eave panels are finished by a facia I having an outer wall I36 of substantially the same vertical height and width at the bottom as the gutter I3 I, the lower edges of said wall terminating in an inwardly directed portion I31 extending toward the wall and terminating in an upwardly directed portion I38, the upper ends of which are provided with an outwardly directed flange I39 adapted to underlie the roof panel I34. The upper edge of the wall I36 is provided with an inwardly directed portion I40 terminating substantially in alignment with the outer edge of the cave panel and having a downwardly directed portion I-ll terminating in an inwardly directed flange I42, adapted to engage the upper surface of the panel I34. Suitable bolts or the like I43 extend through suitable openings in the portions I40 and I31 to draw the respective members together to provide clamping engagement between the flanges I30 and I42 and the cave panel I34. The gable facia I35 and the gutter I21 are preferably provided with mitered ends to form a finished joint at the corners of the building.

In order to seal the line of engagement between the roof panels and the wall panels a strip of waterproof flexible material or the like I45 is clamped into the angle formed by the innersheet I02 of the roof panel and the outer-sheet 45 of the wall panel by an angular member I46, the flanges of which are spaced slightly from the sheets of the roof and wall panels. The angular member is held in place by flanges I41 secured by suitable fastening devices I48 to the side edges of the astragals 64.

Fig. 9 illustrates a structure for frictionally supporting wall boards, plaster boards and the like for finishing the inside of the building. 2

bars I49 are arranged with one flange I50 located between a wall panel 4 and a flange of a column, the other flange I5! of said Z bar extending outwardly from said column to mount a strip of wood or the like I52 preferably secured to the flange I5| by suitable fastenings I53. The strips of wood I52 form nailing strips, the faces of which are preferably in spaced relation to the inner-surface of the columns for mounting wall boards I54 or the like by nailing or otherwise securing same to the nailing strips I52. The wall panels I54 may be arranged whereby the innersurface thereof is flush with the inner-surface of the columns or said panels may be inset whereby the columns will project slightly into the room to give a panel strip effect.

Partitions I55 may be mounted on the various columns as desired by suitable clamping devices I56 having portions extending across the innerface of the columns and engaging the side flanges thereof, said clamping members being provided with flanges I51 extending into the interior of the building and suitably spaced to receive the partition I55 therebetween, suitable fastening devices I58 extending through the flanges I51 to draw same together and clamp the partition in place.

In assembling a building constructed as described, the respective members are prefabricated and shipped to the site of the building. The foundation 2 is poured of concrete, steel floor framing or other suitable material, anchored bolts being provided for mounting the column base I2 thereon. The columns are erected on the column base and secured thereto by fastening devices 36 and the rafters and the like secured to the upper ends of said columns, the upper ends of said columns being connected by the header members 39. The ridge member I09 is secured to the rafters to provide a rigid frame structure. The members I9, 2| and 26 which preferably are prefabricated with waterproof adhesive coating are then placed on the outer edge of the foundation, the adhesive between the respective members supporting same and the member I9 in engagement with the outer portion of the column base, the ends of the water table being mitered to provide a finished structure at the corners to the building. The wall panels are then arranged in engagement with the columns with the channcled lower edge of said wall panels engaging over the upwardly projecting edges of the lip I1, member I9 and water table 2I to provide a snug 'fit therebetween. The wall astragals are then located to close the space between the wall panels and secured to the columns by fastening devices 62, waterproof gasket material prefabricated on said astragals sealing the contacting face of said astragals and wall panels. Tightening of the fastening devices draws the astragals into clamping engagement with the wall panels to frictionally hold same in place. The upper ends of the roof panels are then engaged with the ridge member I09 whereby the grooves I06 in the end engages rib H5, and the side edges of said roof panels are spaced with each edge overlying the rafters. The strip I I6 is then placed along the ridge member overlapping the joint of the roof panels and ridge members. The cap H9 is placed over the strip and anchored to the ridge member by suitable fastening devices I20, waterproof adhesive being located between contacting faces of said members. The roof astragals are then located over the open spaces between the roof panels with suitable waterproof adhesive previously applied to the astragal during prefabrication between the contacting faces, said roof astragals being secured in place by suitable fastening devices I24 to clamp the roof panels in place and provide frictional engagement between the astragals, panels and the rafters. Strips of waterproof gasket material are then placed in angular members I46 and applied at the joint between the roof panels and wall panels and secured in place by suitable fastening devices I48. The gable facia is applied to the eave panels I34 and clamped thereon by fastening devices I43. The gutters l2! are then placed on the projecting ends of the roof panels and secured thereto by fastening devices I33, the outer flange |3l being secured to the projecting ends of the astragals by fastening devices I32. If a finished wall is desired on the inside of the building the 2 bars I49 are inserted between wall panels 4 and the flanges of the column. Nailing strips are applied to the 2 bars and the wall panels I54 suitably secured to the nailing strips. Also any partition desired in the interior of the building may be clamped to the columns as desired.

In a building structure such as described all of the panel units are held in place by friction, no bolts passing through said panel units. Therefore, the building is characterized as consisting of a rigid steel frame to which is applied metal, insulated wall and roof closure units held in place by friction, thus permitting expansion and contraction of closure unit panels. Also the complete floating assembly eliminates any requirement for new or replacement panels where re-erection or enlargement of the building is required.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a metal building, a base, spaced vertical columns mounted on said base, rafters secured to said columns and spanning the building, a plurality of roof panel units, said roof panel units having side edges overlying said rafters, said side edges of adjacent roof panel units being spaced apart, roof astragals overlying the side edges of adjacent roof panel units, means securing the roof astragals to the rafters for clamping the roof panel units therebetween whereby said roof panel units are held in place by friction and are free to expand and contract individually, a plurality of wall panel units the upper edges of which substantially engage the bottom surfaces of the roof panel units, said wall panel units having side edges overlapping the columns, said edges of adjacent wall panel units being spaced apart, wall astragals overlying the side edges of adjacent wall panel units, means securing the wall astragals to the columns for frictionally clamping the wall panel units therebetween whereby said wall panel units are free to expand and contract individually, waterproof flexible strips exteriorly of and at the upper edges of the wall panel units, and angle members supported by and extending between the wall astragals in engagement with the flexible strips for retaining said strips in sealing engagement with the adjacent portions of the wall and roof panel units for providin a waterproof joint therebetween which permits relative movement of the wall and roof panel units.

HARRY L. HAVEN'S.

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